Vocational program gets help at campuses

The vocational programs at three Penn State campuses are getting a little extra help this semester.

Since October, Penn State Hazleton, Wilkes-Barre and Worthington-Scranton have received a helping hand from Jennifer Stombaugh, the new vocational development and placement coordinator for the Northeast region.

Her work is made possible by a Carl Perkins Grant for Vocational Development, which has been in place at the three campuses since 1994.

"The three northeast campuses do have a lot of vocational students and felt a need for the grant," Stombaugh said.

Since Wilkes-Barre is the most central of the three campuses, a staff assistant keeps records and works at the career planning office permanently while Stombaugh travels from campus to campus.

"I plan to hold a number of workshops on career planning, résumé and cover letter writing, interviewing skills, and job search strategies this semester at each of the campuses," she said.

The system for these vocational programs also offers students a unique job placement system.

"(The system) allows them to place their résumé with our office and when employers call with job postings, we send out their résumés," Stombaugh said.

-- by Kara McConnell